John Niemann
John Niemann (born April 19, 1905 in Frankfurt am Main , † July 22, 1990 in Darmstadt ) was a German composer and collector of chess problems . He was considered a specialist in auxiliary matting .
Life
Niemann studied chemistry in Frankfurt am Main and graduated with a doctorate. In the mid-1930s he moved to Darmstadt, where he worked in a pharmaceutical company and was involved in the development of an insecticide. The game of Go and chess were hobbies of his.
With the SK Darmstadt 1924 , Niemann won the Otto Ströbel challenge cup in Oberamstadt in 1958.
Chess composition
At the age of 16, Niemann learned to play chess. From 1929 he began to compose problems. He got the inspiration for this from the composers Gerhard Fuhlendorf and Wolfgang Pauly . Most of his 500 own compositions were auxiliary mat tasks.
He presented his knowledge of the auxiliary mat in many specialist articles. Both of his works were important
- Echo in the auxiliary matt , clinic about Erkelenz 1950
- Wenigsteiner im Hilfsmatt , Wegberg 1977
These publications inspired other composers to undertake further tasks.
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Solution 1 : 1.… c7 2. Kf4 Kf6 3. Kg4 c8D + 4. Kh5 Dh3 mate
Solution 2 : 1.… Kf7 2. Kd6 c7 3. Kd7 Kf6 4. Ke8 c8D mate
As a rule, Black begins in the auxiliary mate and Black's move is therefore written first in the. If white begins, the above notation is therefore common.
Auxiliary mat collection
From 1947 on, Niemann collected auxiliary matt tasks and classified them on index cards. In the course of his life around 65,000 tasks came together. This collection was world famous in professional circles.
After Niemann's death, Hans Gruber (Bobingen / Regensburg) took over these index cards. In the 1990s, Gerd Wilts (Munich) and Hans-Peter Reich (Kaarst / Neuss) integrated the tasks into a database for chess compositions. This was available on CD from 1999, but is also available to anyone on the Internet together with other recorded tasks. Database queries can be used to determine possible predecessors for tasks.
The functionary
From 1970 on, Niemann was 2nd chairman of the Schwalbe Problem Chess Association for several years . He also worked in the Fide Problem Commission (from 1958) and here in several working groups and from 1980 to 1983 as tournament director of the 2nd WCCT. For this he received the title "International Fide Referee for Chess Composition" and in 1986 the honorary title "Honory Master of Problem Chess".
Web links
- Ralf Jürgen Binnewirtz: Collectors and Collections. Part I: Problems with a photograph by Niemann
- Compositions by John Niemann on the Schwalbe's PDB server
Individual evidence
- ↑ Schach-Echo 1958, No. 9, 3rd cover page below (with a list of the Darmstadt team).
- ↑ Dr. John Niemann . Schach-Echo 1960, page 95 (picture, curriculum vitae, tasks)
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Niemann, John |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | German chess composer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | April 19, 1905 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Frankfurt am Main |
| DATE OF DEATH | July 22, 1990 |
| Place of death | Darmstadt |